Regulating device.



Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2 sums-sum 1. Fig 2 WITNESSES fAZ SZENFUR. ANDRE E0 UH y, MEQ A 5 1:5 ATTUHNELY.

A. BOURY.

BEGULA'I'ING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JULY16, 1912.

1,133,000, Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

\ IINVYENTUH .7 ATTUHNEX STATES PATENT F l semis nectar, or rears, FRANCE, essreuoe r0 GENERAL anaem c 'oonra-nr, a. oomarron or soak.

REGULATING- DEVICE.

meaooe.

furnish energy for the operation of lamps and other translating devices. @rdinarily storage batteries are used in connection with suchgenerators so that when the speed or" the generator is too lovv to produce a suili ciently large electromotive force for the satisiactory operation of the translating de- CIT o vices the storage battery Will assume the load. When the speed of the generator is such that e voltage impressed on the system is in excess of the bat"ery vo'ltage, connections are so arr-an "ed that the storage battery is recharged. n order to avoid injury to the battery, its charging current should be substantially constant.

The object of my invention is to provide means for keeping one feature of the energy supplied by a variable speed generator to external circuit substantially constant Wit in certain speed limits. I attain this object by means of an intermittent cut-out or interrupter which is mechanically voperated and which is so connected to the generator armacure or other device Whose speed corresponds to that of the armature that the'ratio of its time oi closure to that of its time or opening .ill decrease as the speed of the said armature increases.

interrupter or cut-out may he arranged to alternately open and close a short circuit about an appreciable resistance field-circuit of the generator, the period when the resistance is in the circuitincreasing in length as the speed of the armature increases. Arranged in this Way-the operation is somewhat similar to that otthe Well known Tirrill regulator in which considerable resistance is intermittently cut in and out of the field circuit by electromagnetic means controlled by variations in the line voltage. In this application of my invention the regulation of the field is dependent directly upon the speed of the armature and the generator voltage is kept substantially Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 16, 1912.

Patented Mar. 23, E9315. Serial No. 709,813.

constant. A modification of this arrange= ment is to locate -the interrupter in the field circuit of the generator so as to intermittently make and break the same, the period of break increasing as the speed oi the armature increases. 9

Instead of utilizing my mechanical terrupter or cut-out in either of the above described Ways l may utilize the same to periodically interrupt the charging cir or the storage battery. According to arrangement the ratio oi the total can when the circuit is complete to or Who it is open decreases as the speed of the armature and therefore energy hirnished by the generator increases. This results in intermittent charging current but the same time the amount 0' ener supplied to the battery will be substait u t l another arrangement is 1 o utilize 7th cut-out for interru; sup ly to the field of one 1 i v T that supplied to the stoi age This Wlll tend to keep the energy to the l invention will be more clearly und r by reference the ace-o 'ngs which show the some emb died several specific forms:

l is a diagrammatic sysshovving manner in which my invention may be utilized; K ulator embodying invention; 3 i

a vertical section of a modification; Fig. e is elevation .01 the disk forming part or the some; Fig. 5 is an elevation of stillneother modification; big. 6 is a vertical section of another modification; 7 is .a do tail view of the conducting plate forming part of the same; Figs. 3, 9 and 10 are vertical sections of further modifications of my invention; view showings lighting system which includes storage battery, and in which my invention is utilized. a

In Fig. 1, 10 is the armature of .Ewsl'llll'ki'; Wound direct current generator, 11 the held of the same, 12 the fieldregulating resistance and 18 is a secondary battery adapted to be 7 constant. 1

shows. a reg- Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic charged by the generator. The regulator forming the subject matter of this application is preferably located at 14 so as to intermittently short circuit the resistance 12 in the circuit of the generator field. However, it may be located at A, in which position the line circuit and the charging circuit of the storage battery will be intermittently interrupted, at B where it will interrupt the line circuit the charging cir-' cuit of the storage battery and the field circuit or at C where it will interrupt the field circuit.

lln the device illustrated in Fig. 2, 15 is a cam mounted upon the shaft 16 which is connected to the armature 10 so as to run at the same speed therewith. 17 is a spring plate having a projection 18 thereon, adjacent the top of the cam 15, and a contact 19 on the opposite side thereof. The plate 17 is attached by means of the insulating block 20 to the metallic lever or vibratory support 21 which-is pivoted at 22 to the frame of the vehicle. The contact 23is located on the lever 21 just over the contact 19. To the lower side of the lever 21 at the free end thereof is attached the spring 24 which is held by the adjustable bolt 25 to the frame of the vehicle. On the upper side of the lever 21 directly above the spring 24 may be connected a dash-pot consisting of plunger 26 working in cylinder 27. Leads 28 and 29 f are connected to the plate 17 and the lever further removed from the shaft 16 in pro- 21 respectively.

The operation of the above described device is as follows :-The contact 19 is forced against the contact 23 by the rotation of the cam 15. The action is to first force the said contents together and then to raise the lever 21 about the pivot 22. After the passage of the cam the lever falls back by reason of its own weight and the force exerted by the spring 24. As the speed of rotation of the cam is great, the lever 21 by reason of its inertia oes not fall back quickly enough to follow the outline of the cam and'remains in oscillation about a mean'position which is portion to its speed. The greater this distance, the shorter at each revolution of the cam will be the period of contact between the elements 19 and 23. The dash-pot servesto diminish oscillation of the lever 21about its mean position and also to diminish the jarring efi'ect of the vehicle. When the con tacts 19 and 23 are together the resistance 12 is short circuited thus strengthening the field. As an increase in. speed diminishes the period of contact and therefore the period urin which the resistance is short circuited the e 'ect of an increase in speed will be to weaken the field.

Tn Figs. 3 and 4 a modification is shown. A brush 30 is attached by meansof the flexible wire 31 passing over pulley 32 to spring 34 mounted in the hollow conducting shaft 35 attached to the armature. The brush 30 is held within the radial guide 35'. A disk 36 composed of insulating material and having set therein the metallic plate 37 is mounted so that the brush 30 may bear against the said plate. The brush 30 and plate 37 are connected through leads 36 and 37' in the circuit so as to shortcircuit the resistance in the field circuit, when they are incontact with each other. The plate 37 is of such shape that when the brush 30 is thrown out toward the periphery of the disk 36 a greater or less extent depending upon the speed of the shaft 35 and its consequent centrifugal force that the period during which the resistance is short circuitedwill be decreased asthe speed increases and vice versa.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, 38 is a cylinder mounted upon the shaft 38 of the armature. The surface of this cylinder comprises the conducting portion 39 and the insulating portion 40. The brushes 41 and 42 are connected in circuit through brush holders 41'and 42, the former being stationary and the latter movable with cylinder 38, guided by rod 42 sliding in sleeve 42". Attached to the cylinder 38 and rotating about the shaft 38' as an axis is a centrifugal governor 43. As the speed of the shaft 38 increases the governor balls 44 will fly out and cause the cylinder 38 to move toward them on the shaft 39; Owing to the shape of the conducting portion 39 of the cylinder this movement will diminish the period during which the brushes 41 and 42 are short circuited by the same and thus increase the period during which the resistance is included in the field circuit.

In Fig. 6, 45 is a shaft adapted to be connected to that of the armature by suitable gearing. 46 is a cylindrical receptacle composed of insulating material and having a lower portion 47 of small diameter containing mercury and an upper portion 48 of greater diameter having set in the side wall thereof the conducting plate 49. Attached to the shaft 45 is the tube 50 having tubes 51 and 52 branching from the upper part thereof. The lower portion of the said tube 50 is immersed in the mercury contained in the receptacle 46. Rotation of the tube with its diverging arms will throw the mercury contained in the arms outward by centrifugal force. The vacuum thereby produced in the tube50 will raise mercury from the receptacle 46 and cause a continuous stream to be thrown against the walls of the upper portion 48 upon the principle of the well known cenwith tionary part of tubes 51, 52 will be increased and, on account of the shape of the conducting plate 49, the higher the mercury is thrown thereon the shorter the period during which the resistof the lever 54 and separated therefrom by the insulating loloclr 56 is the spring plate 57 having contact 58 on the upper face thereof. @n the lower side of said spring is mouhted the plate 59 which is adapted to contact with the cam 60 mounted upon the shaft '61 of the armature. A hook 62 of insulating material mounted upon the end or the lever 54% limits the separation of the contacts. '63 and 6 1 are conductors which are connected to the spring 57 and the lever respectively. represents the resistance to he inserted in the field. G5 is 'a condenser for diminishing the sparking between contacts 55 and 58. The operation or this modification of my invention is subs-tantially siniilar'to of device shown in 2, The device shown in F 8 is open to the objection for certain speeds of revoluvioratory interfere tion of earn the inherent E A. a frequency 01 spring 53 near tude of its oscillations. The result would he that the duration of the period oi contact will be decreased or increased depending u on whether the cam comes in conta ith a A the sprlngas the iatter 15 in ovnig away rrom it or when it is an reachin it. The device .n. L5

shown in Fig. 9is intended toovercome this difiic'ulty. This is done loy making the contacts and the parts which support them as light as possible in order to increase the irequency of the spring and so to diminish the chances of resonance The spring 68 is fastened by means of the clamp 69 to the statacts togetherand then to elevate the superposed parts as a'unit.. In order to prevent the spring 68 from following the cam 73' mass 7 5 the the eilect of the impulses given to itthe vehicle and secured to the said spring and separated therefrom by the insulating block is thespring 71. At rings are} i 3 mount-j: ed on the shaft 74 serves to force the 0011- the resistance 91.

when the latter rotates at speeds inferior to the inherent frequency of the spring, it is necessary to connect it to a device which will exercise a braking eilect upon it. Any de- Vice acting as a dash-pot will serve this purpose. l have shown a mass 75 adapted to slide upon the rod 76, which is fastened to the spring 68 and which has cushions 77, 78 mounted at the lower and upper extremities of the same. It will be seen that the inertia of the mass 75 opposes itseli to its rapid displacement by the spring 68. It will hold the latter by pressing against the upper cushion or abutment 7 8 when the spring tends to follow the cam 73 toward the shaft 74. And yet it will not oppose the rapid rise or the spring under the action of the cam further along in its revolution since the rod 7 6 will he forced upwardly through the said mass. The upper abutment be regulated by means of nut 79. desired the inertia of the mass may be increased a surrounding the same with an electromagnetic coil 89. in 9 the leads 81 are connected to springs 7i 68 spectively the condenser 83 is pro to diminish the spark. 101s trateda modification of this device consists merely in substituting for the o 68 the spring 84- which is bent so as con c a comparatively high frequency of vibration may he desirable to include in tl t 211 means for increasing the voltage generator when or othentrans devices are included in the circuit over t when the storage battery alone is in circ This easily done in a system incl in my invention on account of the fact th its operation is dependent upon the spee and not upon the load upon the generat in Fig 11 is illustrated such a system which a portion of the field resistance whic the interrupter short circuits'periodically short circuited continuously while the are in circuit. The system includes a genorator having armature 85 which charges the storage battery 86 and also, when the'switch 87 is closed supplies energy to the lamps Included also in the circuit is the solenoid The lead 92 15 connected to a point corresponding an intermediate value of this resistance.

When the switch 87 is closed the solenoid 89 is energized and magnetizes the core 93 This attracts the armature 94: and bar 95 closing contacts 96. The effect is to include in the field circuit a part only of The action of the periodic interrupter 97 embodyihg my invention is not afiected except that it acts upon a smaller resistance when the lamps are in circuit than When the storage battery alone is in circuit. The switch 98 may he closed by lower abutment 77 strikes insulating hand if the automatic circuit closing means does not operate.

Various modifications of the above described structure will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and are to be considered as coming within the spirit of my invention, the scope of Whichis set forth in the accompanying claims.-

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In combination, a variable speed generator, and a voltage regulator for varying the field strength of said generator, comprising a pair of contacts and means for bringing the same together, said means being adapted to be driven by a movable element of said variable speed generator and means for causing the ratio of the period of closure to that of opening of said contacts to vary inversely as the speed of the movable element of the generator.

2. in combination, a variable speed generator, and a voltage regulator for varying the field strength of said generator, comprising a pair of contacts and means for bringing the same together, said means being adapted to be driven by a movable element of said variable speed generator and said device he- 66 contacts together an ing 50 arranged that the ratio of the period of closure to that of opening of said contacts will vary inversely as the speed of the movable element of the generator.

, 3. The combination, in a voltage regulator for varying the field strength of a variable speed generator, of a vibratory support, a spring having one end secured there to to vibrate therewith but insulated therefrom, the other end of said spring being free to vibrate independently of the support, a contact on the free end of said spring, a cooperating contact on said support, and a cam mounted upon a shaft and adapted to bear against the free end of said spring so as to bring said contacts together and allow them to separate upon the rotation of the shaft.

4. The combination, in a voltage regulator for varying the field strength of a variable speed generator, of 'a main spring mounted to vibrate, a secondary spring having one end secured thereto to vibrate therewith but insulated therefrom, the other end of the latter spring being free to vibrate independently of said main spring, a contact on the free end of said secondary spring, a coiiperating contact on said main spring, and and adapted to bear against the free end of said secondary sprin so as to bring said allow them to separate upon the rotation of the shaft.

5. The combination, in a voltage re 11- lator for varying the field strength 0 a variable speed generator, of a vibratory support, a spring having one end secured thereto to vibrate therewith but insulated there a cam mounted upon a shaft nmaooo from, the other end of said spring being free to vibrate independently of the support, a contact on the free end of said s rin a cod cratin contact on said su tor for Varying the field strength of a va-.

riable speed generator, of a vibratory support, a spring havin one end secured thereto to vibrate therewlth but insulated therefrom, the other end of said spring being free to vibrate independently of the sup port, a contact on the free end of said spring, a cotiperating contact on said support, a cam mounted upon a shaft and adapted to bear against the free end of said spring so as to bring said contacts together and allow them to separate u on the rotation of the shaft, and means or increasing the inertia of said vibratory support comprising a weight loosely attached to the vibrating portion of said support.

7. The combination, in a voltage regulator for varying the field strength of a variable speed generator, of a main spring mounted to vibrate, a secondary spring having one end secured thereto to vibrate therewith but insulated therefrom, the other end of the latter spring being free to vibrate independently of said main spring, a

contact on the free end of said secondary .spring, a cooperating contact on said main to the vibrating portion of said main spring. I

8. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a reci rocatable member spring moved in one direction, an electromagnet adapted when energized to steady the movement of said reciprocatable member and retard its movement, a second reciprocatable member normally in contact with the'first member and movable toward and from it, means for conducting electric current to said reciprocatable members at their oint of contact with-each other, and means or moving the second reci rocatable member tower and from the rst member, for the purposes set forth.

9. In a device) of the class described, the combination of a reciprocatable member spring moved in one direction, a second re ciprocatable member normally in contact and from it, mechanism for mechanically so moving the second member, means for conducting electric current through said members at their point of contact with each other, and a magnet adapted when energized to proportionally control the move-- and a regulator controlling the latter circuit, this regulator including a vibratory contact, means for vibrating said contact proportionately to the speed of the generator, and a sluggishly movin follow up contact complemental to the aroresaid contact.

In Witness whereof l have hereunto set 20 my hand this 26th day of June, 1912.

ANDRE non-RY Witnesses:

H. (3. Com, WERNER Hmnenenn. 

